BillnutinHouston

1) Billy Buffalo 2) Bill Polian In this order.

Screens and draws. That's as far into the X's and O's as I go.

As has been said by others many ways previously, TBD is my link to my hometown and to my favorite team. It's actually the only online community I belong to, and the website I visit the most. Thanks to the moderators who do an almost impossible job, keeping things running smoothly. I hope that this year I can stop by for the tailgate at the opener and meet some of you fine folks. EDIT - Oops, forgot I had already posted on page 2.

Gotta love this level of excitement from a 43-year fan!

Wow.

Leave our center out of this!

I applaud your effort and I agree that it would garner media attention (for a day).

This is a quote from Mary Owen (Ralph's niece by marriage) in the recent Buffalo News article, on the team's regionalization efforts: "Did we know that we would experience some backlash? We did. But you say, 'We're doing this for the benefit of that fan base.' That's another thing with working for Mr. Wilson, working for Russ Brandon, is we have the right intentions. People will get it as they watch our actions and see us go along this process. You've probably noticed, over that period of time people now understand: 'OK, we get it.'" If you are Mary Owen there are only 2 possible reasons why you say this: 1) because you're naive and being completely taken in by Ralph - unlikely or 2) the sentiment is sincere. I've long believed that the Bills genuinely believe they NEED to regionalize just to keep up with the rest of the league. The rest of us just need to get on board and drop the parochial mindsets.

This is exactly correct. WNY'ers need to think beyond the end of their nose (for once), or the NFL will pass you by.

Dead to you? Why the hate?

I loved Kenny. He was not as pretty a runner as Thurman was, but I think he actually had a better burst.

Also made my air/room rez months ago - it's "Job 1" on schedule release day! I'm at the Red Roof near the airport.

I forgot how much the Bills work out of the shotgun.

Not sure what's funnier, this statement or that fact that I actually caught the typo.

I think Nix has done a good job, in fact I literally told him as much right before my daughter snapped this picture (before the Eagles game last year). I'm sure my opinion was quite reassuring to him (sarcasm off). While I think Nix has done a good job, I'm not sure that the statistics laid out by the OP really make the case. These same stats can be interpreted as a measure of just how bad the roster was that Buddy inherited.

I found the juxtapositioning of rap, Sabres images and Jeannerette's voice a bit disorienting.

I'm even more confused by this response than I was by your first statement where you opined "As far as the season ticket holders feeling that they are somehow bigger supporters dollars wise is just stupid." Can you further clarify your point?

Not regionalizing is not an option for this franchise. Because of Buffalo's small size, its version of regionalizing into Canada is pretty much equivalent to other NFL cities just now starting to market to their own northwest suburbs. The "Buffalo Bills" is a 50+ year, storied, iconic brand name, steeped in history and tradition. You don't casually mess with that unless/until your fanbase has already gone 60-70% Canadian as a result of other, organic means. I don't think you rebrand in an effort to gain fans, as that would backfire. It's more appropriate to gain Canadian fans then rebrand (way, way down the road, if ever) to better capture the essence of the fanbase. I believe a Niagara Falls stadium would do far more to attract Canadian fans than a name change would.

Stupid? OK then let's make a deal. You pay my season ticket invoice for me, and in exchange I'll do my part by staying home and watching commercials on TV. Fair deal?

I choose to support the Bills through my season ticket purchase even though the blackout rule (as it pertains to the Bills) means nothing to me. So I can't sympathize with any "fan" complaining about this decision, if they don't have any skin in the game. Call me old fashioned but our institutions (whether sports teams or government) can't survive for long when the "takers" who expect something for nothing, outnumber the "givers".

Thanks for the tip.

Ditto this ^. Maintains my connection to Buffalo in between visits.

I agree with all of this. What blows my mind is that ever since becoming a Club seat holder, I've become aware of how many of the "fans" in the red seats spend big chunks of their time during the game INSIDE, eating/drinking and watching the dozens of TVs nearby. Why come to the game then spend the day INSIDE? Can someone explain the attraction to me?

Great post! Being sent over to Youtube, you can see that there's actually some great vintage Bills clips there.